How Dental Implants Prevent Bone Loss and Support Long-Term Jaw Health

Tooth loss creates not only a visible gap but also often triggers a chain reaction that negatively affects your oral health. A missing tooth can lead to significant challenges, one of the most serious being bone loss in the jaw. When a tooth is absent, there is no chewing force to stimulate the bone, which results in shrinkage of the jawbone in a process called bone resorption. This can alter your facial structure, affect neighboring teeth, and make common dental treatments, such as dentures, feel loose and unstable, in addition to impairing oral function.

This is where dental implants for patients with bone loss can help, making a positive difference in long-term wellness.

How Do Dental Implants Restore Oral Function?

Along with restoring your smile, dental implants also restore vital function. Here’s how they do it:

• Restores chewing: Implants function like real teeth, providing thorough chewing forces that stimulate bone regeneration in the jaw.
• Stimulate jawbone: Implants mimic the forces that prevent bone resorption by integrating with the jawbone and acting as a prosthetic tooth root.
• Support adjacent teeth: The gaps created by tooth loss allow adjacent teeth to shift. Implants fill these spaces, providing support to surrounding teeth and preventing malalignment.
• Preserve facial structure: Dental implants help maintain your face’s natural contours by preventing bone loss.

What to Expect From the Dental Implant Process

An implant process typically depends on a patient’s unique condition and requirements. However, a typical course of treatment includes the following steps:

1. 1. Initial consultation and planning: A thorough examination (which includes an initial dental exam as well as dental X-rays and scans) is conducted to develop a treatment plan.

• Placing the dental implants:

• The process begins with the injection of local anesthesia to numb the surgical site.
• The gums are peeled back, and a dental implant is embedded surgically into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth/teeth before being allowed to heal.
• As healing occurs, bone growth surrounds the implant, resulting in its fusion with the jawbone, a process known as osseointegration.

1. Placing the abutment: As the implant successfully fuses with the bone and stabilizes, an abutment, which serves as the foundation for a new tooth or connectors, is screwed into place.
2. Fixing the prosthesis: Impressions of the teeth are taken to fabricate the artificial tooth. This artificial tooth is thereafter attached to the abutment.

Are you Eligible for Dental Implants if Your Jawbone is Compromised?

Jawbone loss does not disqualify you from getting a dental implant. Advancements in implantology and bone regeneration techniques have made dental implants possible for bone loss patients. However, this eligibility depends on various factors such as:

• General health, which includes co-morbidities such as diabetes and habits such as smoking that can delay healing
• Location and extent of bone loss
• Gum health and risk of infection
• Current oral hygiene practices

Jawbone Restoration: Best Options Explained

If there is insufficient bone density to sustain a traditional implant, your dentist may recommend the following solutions:

• Bone grafting: This procedure involves restoring lost bone due to advanced gum disease. It uses natural or synthetic bone grafts to regain bone density before implant placement.

1. 1. Sinus lift (sinus augmentation): This is a surgical procedure typically performed in the posterior regions of the upper jaw to increase bone volume for the purpose of supporting dental implants.
   2. Ridge augmentation: This is done to ensure adequate bone volume, both horizontally and vertically, in the jaw to recreate natural bone contours and support the implants.

• Guided bone regeneration (GBR): Also known as guided tissue regeneration (GTR), this procedure utilizes a barrier membrane to enhance bone regeneration in areas with bony defects.

Conclusion: Rebuild More Than Just Your Smile

Modern dentistry has made it possible for patients with bone loss to get dental implants and lasting oral care. Dental implants are now more convenient than ever, thanks to advanced solutions like bone grafting, short implants, and zygomatic support.

At University Ave Dental, our expert team is dedicated to helping you restore not only your smile, but also your self-confidence and overall wellness. With a team consisting of some of the best dentist in Blaine, we use cutting-edge diagnostic tools and create personalized treatment plans to deliver lasting, natural-looking results.

Take the next step toward a healthier smile.
Whether you’ve recently lost a tooth or are navigating the aftereffects of a previous procedure, we’re here to help. 

Call us at (763) 784-1242 or visit University Ave Dental at 10155 University Ave NE Ste 112, Blaine, MN 55434.

FAQs

1. Can I get dental implants even with bone loss?
   Indeed, your dentist may conduct scans and X-rays to assess the quality of your jawbone. You can still undergo dental implant placement even with mild to severe bone loss, thanks to bone grafting or specialized implant procedures.
2. What is bone grafting, and do I need it before implants?
   Bone grafting aims to rebuild the structure of lost bone using synthetic or natural grafts. It is typically performed in cases where there is insufficient bone to support and hold the implant. 
3. How long can I get implants following bone grafting?
   After the grafting procedure, your jawbone may take four to six months to heal completely and form a new bone before placing an implant.
4. Are there implant options for severe bone loss?
   Absolutely. Dentistry has evolved to the point where techniques like zygomatic implants, mini-implants, and short implants can effectively compensate for low bone volume. Your dentist will direct you through the entire procedure.